Disclaimer: Not mine
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"Forget it, partner!" Ban was more annoyed than surprised as he pushed Hoji back onto the bed. "If Boss says you're sick, you're sick. So stay in bed and get better already!"
"I'm not--" Hoji's retort died off in a cough. He glared up at him, and Ban might've been intimidated if Hoji's nose wasn't so runny. "And don't call me partner."
"Believe or not, we can survive without you for a day." Ban handed him a box of tissues, which Hoji promptly refused. He rolled his eyes and put it on the night table, within Hoji's reach. It was a well known fact at Deka Base that his partner was the only one who could match Ban for stubbornness, but sheesh.
Hoji glared at him again, and this time the intensity of his gaze was more powerful than the cold symptoms. "Would you let this stop you?"
"Well, no but..." Ban stopped when he realized he was fighting a losing battle... so he settled for a compromise.
Carefully, he helped Hoji out of bed and into his computer chair. After bringing him the tissue box and a spare blanket, he booted it up for him. "You can hack the Alienizer's system from here, right?"
Hoji sniffled. "Yes..."
"Then you do that, since it's just as important as us trying to find him. You can call us when you do-- and then go back to bed after that, okay?"
There was a long pause... and then Hoji rolled his eyes. "I suppose this is better than you leading me on a wild goose chase all day."
"That's the spirit!" Ban bent down to kiss him--
"Don't. I'm contagious."
"Oh, right." Ban settled for a grin as he went out the door to join his teammates-- it wasn't what he'd wanted (that involved Hoji staying in bed until the worst of it was over), but at least Hoji wasn't going out into February weather with that cold.
It was a reasonable compromise.